Get To Know A Board Member
Meet the dedicated leaders behind the Prosper Ladies Association! Our "Get to Know a Board Member" series introduces you to the passionate individuals who guide our mission and make a difference in our community. Learn about their roles, what inspires them, and the unique perspectives they bring to PLA. Check back regularly to discover more about the people who help drive our initiatives forward!
Lori Puckett - President
1. What inspired you to get involved with the Prosper Ladies Association?“My family and I moved to Prosper after living in College Station for 19 years. We had one family friend in Frisco, and one of my sisters lives in McKinney. That was it! I knew I wanted to get involved locally, so I Googled “how to get involved in Prosper.” Prosper Ladies Association was the first result to pop up. The tagline resonated with me: Serving Where It Matters. I made it a priority to attend a meeting.”
2. How long have you been a member, and what roles have you served in?“This is my 10th year of serving with Prosper Ladies Association. I started as a general volunteer, then served as the Fundraising Chair for 3 years. I moved into the Vice President position for 3 years, and just started my second year as President.”
3. What has been your most memorable experience with PLA so far?“While I had supported our Prosper Christmas Angels (PCA) program by adopting a family, it was several years before I helped as a shopper. We have individuals who will make monetary donations towards PCA, and volunteers who take those donations and purchase gifts (clothes, toys, necessities). Some of the volunteers have been doing this for years! They know how to shop for bargains; they are efficient; they make it so much fun!”
4. What is your favorite aspect of community service, and why?“My favorite part of community service is the sense of fulfillment I get from knowing that I'm making a positive impact on my community. As an example, due to Covid, our Summer Lunch program had to be completely reworked. We went from 297 students served during the summer of 2020 to 620 students served this summer. Every Saturday different organizations come in to pack bags of food. Then, on Mondays, Young Men’s Service League packs those bags into the cars of volunteer drivers. It took more than 700 volunteers to make this happen. It’s a wonderful example of our community coming together.”
5. What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not volunteering?“Jeff, my husband, would say there isn’t a time that I’m not volunteering! From PTO to the Walnut Grove Band; Young Men’s Service League to Boy Scouts Troop 365; I really am happiest when serving. But when I’m not volunteering, you’ll find me spending time with Jeff and our sons, Gavin and Logan. We love being outside: camping, snow skiing, fishing.”
6. What advice would you give to someone looking to get more involved in community service?“If you’re looking to get involved locally, start with the Town of Prosper’s website https://www.prospertx.gov/298/Community-Resources-and-Volunteering. This is an entire page dedicated to Community Resources and Volunteering with links to local non-profits. Research their missions, who they’re serving, and how you can help. There’s something for everyone!”
Kristi Izquierdo - Vice President
1. What inspired you to get involved with the Prosper Ladies Association? In 2017 as my children were getting older, I wanted to get involved with the community and make my own connections. Don’t get me wrong, being David’s wife and Layne and Hayden’s mom are my greatest blessings, but I longed to also have my own identity and friendships in Prosper. During that time, a friend of mine, Lynne Lenhart, invited me to attend a Prosper Ladies meeting. I started to attend the meetings regularly and volunteer with the organization. Next thing I knew, I was on the membership committee and then serving on the board.
2. How long have you been a member, and what roles have you served in? Since 2017, I have served as Benevolent Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and currently Vice President. The friendships, connections, and memories that I have made by serving with Prosper Ladies Association are priceless. As an organization, we work incredibly hard to serve our community’s needs, but have fun while doing it.
3. What has been your most memorable experience with PLA so far? My most cherished moments are witnessing firsthand how our programs make a difference in the Prosper ISD community. I’ll always remember the time when I stood in line for the restroom at a Ladies Who Bingo event in Celina, TX and received a big warm hug from behind. I was wearing my Prosper Ladies shirt because the event that evening was supporting our organization. The woman who hugged me expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you”. She shared that her family had relocated to Texas a few years ago to escape a difficult spousal situation. She confided that without the Summer Lunch program, those initial months in Texas would have been incredibly challenging. We hugged again and her story moved to tears, realizing that we had brought some joy to her and her children during an extremely difficult time in their lives.
4. What is your favorite aspect of community service, and why? My favorite aspect of community service is knowing that as an organization we are making real, tangible differences in people’s lives. Whether it be the community that we are serving, or the volunteers that are working with us; we are helping to meet a basic need, creating a sense of belonging, or inspiring positive change. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that our actions are having a lasting impact on individuals and our community.
5. What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not volunteering? When I am not volunteering, you can find me working out at the gym, watching Auburn football, working on another DIY project with my husband, or just enjoying family and friends. As a family, we enjoy the outdoors. Our favorite vacation is to go skiing in Colorado every winter.
6. What advice would you give to someone looking to get more involved in community service? Prosper truly is a small town with a big heart and we are fortunate to have many service organizations that serve our growing community. For someone looking to get involved, I would suggest getting out there and volunteering with each organization to find out which programs they enjoy most.
Testimony Tuesday
Every Tuesday, we share the real stories of people whose lives have been touched by the Prosper Ladies Association. These heartfelt messages remind us of the power of community and the difference we can make when we come together. From providing meals through our Summer Lunch Program to helping families during the holidays, each testimony is a reflection of the impact that you help create.Read on to hear how our programs have made a lasting difference, and be inspired by the lives we are privileged to serve.
“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all the lunches you have provided for my little ones. I cried today unpacking everything. At the risk of sounding a bit sappy...you have been an answered prayer. So touched and so blessed. Thanks for all you do!"
A Grateful Parent
Summer Lunch Program
.jpg)
“Thank you all for being so gracious to give me your scholarship. College is something my family needs help in when it comes to funds, but thanks to you, it is so much easier. I'm extremely grateful that I was chosen to receive it. You truly don't understand how much it means to me."
2022 Scholarship Recipient
Scholarship
